posted on April 1, 2001 03:08:46 PM
Subject: EBay Loses Domain Name
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2001
In a stunning set of circumstances, e-commerce giant eBay has lost the right to use it's own name. While the auction Site was focusing its attention on several new overseas acquisitions, the domain name "EBay" quietly slipped back into public domain status.
"Apparently, our lawyers were so immersed in other issues that we somehow neglected to renew our domain name with Network Solutions." said spokesperson Kevin Pursglove. "I guess it just lapsed."
The name was registered by North Carolina trawling fisherman Newt Kreps, who "didn't know what all the fuss was about" and in fact, wasn't aware that there was an internet site named eBay.
"I give fishing tours in Escalalla Bay" explained Kreps. "A friend of mine said that I should put a little Web thingy up to advertise my tours. Funny thing is, I would have registered Escalalla Bay, but it seemed too long to type. Besides, the name 'EBay Tours' should just about fit on my boat"
posted on April 1, 2001 04:11:51 PM
Actually their domain name does expire on August 5th, 2001 which I think is odd. Most large comanies pay several (up to 10) years in advance.
posted on April 1, 2001 07:24:52 PM
They did however take over the ehay.au name that was registered by a company named ebay that had been in business for close to 20 years!
